Unfortunately the 2014 edition of the Goya Windsurfing Festival at Waddell Creek near Santa Cruz didn’t get any wind. But that didn’t stop the competitors have having fun and getting some action on the water.

A slow and sunny start to the day led to the wind starting to build around lunchtime and by 14:20 the first elimination had been resumed in 8-13 knots. The winners’ final was completed just in time as Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Point-7) claimed the first victory of 2014.

Tomorrow’s action will kick off bright and early with the skippers’ meeting being called for 7am. The latest forecast promises the infamous Tramontana wind – which last appeared here back in 2011, producing exhilarating slalom with gusts of up to 50 knots – so tomorrow should see frantic, adrenaline fuelled racing with a first possible start at 07:30am.

Day 1: The opening round of race one completed before the wind halts play

The inaugural day of the 2014 PWA Catalunya World Cup saw a hazy and chilly start, however it wasn’t long before bursts of sunshine started to burn through the cloud and 6 heats were completed.

Dunkerbeck reflects on day one:

“The wind started off pretty good 10-12 knots and sunny, up until my heat no. 6 it was on the limit but ok, then a cloud came, the wind dropped and changed angle, so even on my 10m2 Severne reflex 5 and 130 Litre Starboard I was underpowered. I’m really happy with the sail but in no wind there is a limit…! A few heats later the day was called off for not good enough wind for slalom! Looks like there will be Tramontana in a few days… I really hope to get some better wind for windsurfing soon (;-))) AND SOME FUN SLALOM!”

For a few days Omazaeki, Japan was the center of the Wavesailing world holding the a contest drawing the likes of many big names and locals. Results were, Alex Mussolini (1st), Graham Ezzy (2nd), Bernd Roediger (3rd) and Morgan Noireaux (4th), Masahiro Motohashi(5th) and Francisco Goya (6th)

Thomas Traversa was crowned champion of the 2013/2014 Red Bull Storm Chase. The 3rd and final mission wrapped up yesterday in Cornwall, England, where they battled hurricane force winds.

Enjoy the teaser video above as we wait for the official video to be released by Red Bull today.

Red Bull Press release:

Frenchman Thomas Traversa was crowned the champion of the storm surfing universe. Despite weighing just 60 kilos, Traversa won the final leg of the Red Bull Storm Chase in hurricane conditions off the coast of Cornwall in front of Marcilio Browne from Brazil and Leon Jamaer from Germany.

ST. IVES BAY (Great Britain) – When the conditions are so rough that fisherman won’t dare to go out to sea, or when people on shore start to nail their windows and doors shut and schools close down, that’s when “action time” starts for the world’s most fearless storm surfers. With building-high waves and gusts of wind reaching 70 knots (80 mph / 130 km/h), only the best were nominated to participate in the “Red Bull Storm Chase”. During an 18-month holding-period, ten of the world’s best windsurfers waited patiently to catch three of the biggest storms on oceans around the globe to determine who was the very best. After Mission 1 in Ireland (January 2013) and a second mission in Tasmania, Australia (August 2013), Red bull Storm Chase picked the storm-ravaged coast of Cornwall, U.K., for the third and final location for a showdown between the remaining four.

Thomas Traversa of France proved that massive size wasn’t needed to master the elements. Despite weighing just 60 kilos, Traversa’s “fighting weight” was enough to handle the waves and wind better than any of his rivals. He took first place ahead of world champion Marcilio Browne of Brazil and Germany’s Leon Jamaer.

Red Bull Storm Chase, Final Results:

1. Thomas Traversa (France)

2. Marcilio Browne (Brazil)

3. Leon Jamaer (Germany)

4. Dany Bruch (Germany)

About Red Bull Storm Chase: Red Bull Storm Chase is the most-challenging windsurfing contest of all time, with a waiting period that started back in August 2012. By hunting down three massive storms around the globe, ten of the world’s best sailors entered the battle for the crown of ultimate storm windsurfer. With waiting periods spanning the main global storm seasons, ten courageous windsurfers – nominated via public voting – were on standby to hunt down three massive storms, with seven previously nominated destinations featuring as possible competition spots. Four of the original fleet were eliminated during the first mission in Brandon Bay, Ireland, at the end of January 2013. From July 22, 2013, the six remaining windsurfers were on standby for the second mission, held in Tasmania, Australia, last August. Out of these six athletes, four emerged as qualifiers for the third and final mission to crown the victorious Red Bull Storm Chase Champion of 2014. To catch raging conditions, the participants had to be flexible-to-the-max during the holding period with just 48-hours to mobilise on-site before the next storm struck.

The 2014 Lancelin Ocean Classic was Philip Koester’s first event with his new sail sponsor Severne. Koester won the event in front of (2nd)Glenn Alexander, (3rd)Graham Wood and(4th) Ben Severne. Will this set the tone for Koester’s PWA season, as he will no doubt be looking to regain his World Title?

The world’s elite of professional PWA sailors mixed up with Hawaiian locals to rip the waves of the windsurfing Mecca called Ho’okipa. Levi Siver, Bernd Roediger and Kauli Seadi took the podium. In the clip they are partnered by the likes of Josh Angulo, Alex Mussolini, the new crowned PWA wave champion Marcillo Browne and the riders of the JP team Kauli Seadi BRA-253, Robby K-89, Ricardo Campello V-111, Jules Denel FRA-41, Antoine Martin F-193, and the Maui Young Gun Morgan Noireaux HI-101. Produced by Robby Swift.

After 7 years the PWA World Tour came back to Hookipa, MAUI for the final event of the 2013 wave tour.

It was also the final event for the 2013 American Windsurfing Tour, and after placing 3rd in Maui Camille Juban was crowned american champion for the 2nd year in a row. Justin Denel also competed in the american event and ended up with a 21st place.

The rest of TeamFranceWindsurf didn’t get their best results ever in Maui, but they did enough to place themselves really well for the 2013 overall World Ranking: Antoine MARTIN is 12th, Jules Denel is 7th and Thomas Traversa is 4th in the World !

Fabrice Beaux put together this nice video from the 2013 AWT Hatteras Wave Jam event that took place mid September. Check out Fabrice’s write up on the event and of course the clip.

I put this video together after our contest-trip in Cape Hatteras. I like that place and that event: the conditions, the people and the landscape make it a unique place to go windsurf. I have been there 4 times for contest and I always did well. The locals and the windsurfing visitors are always super excited to have the pros on their local spots and we always get a warm welcome there.

The AWT organizers did a great job again this year, and invited Miho and me to stay in the staff house. It was a huge house with a pool, Jacuzzi, and small movie theater. This way we were always in the center of the action and it was so much fun to hang out with everyone.

I also took advantage of being there to present and premier our latest film, “New Hawaii”. I was so stoked to hear all the positive responses that people had to say about it and asking me question about our killer spot in the North Philippines.

Cape Hatteras is perhaps the best windsurfing spot on the East Coast of the US, and I hope that this video might inspire you to go on windsurfing trip there.
~ Fabrice Beaux ~